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WILLMAR -- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission on Tuesday approved the League of Minnesota Cities' selection of the St. Cloud law firm of Quinlivan and Hughes to investigate Utilities General Manager Bruce Gomm for possible misconduct. Commissioners placed Gomm on a 30-day paid administrative leave on Dec. 12. Commission Vice President Dave Baker said he had been in contact with the League and said the League moved forward with hiring an independent investigator.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission on Tuesday rejected a motion to study the feasibility of a solar project for Willmar Municipal Utilities at this time. The commission defeated a motion to sign a nonbinding letter of intent with tenKsolar of Minneapolis to study the feasibility of a 600-kilowatt-hour project as a showcase to prospective national and worldwide customers. The study had been proposed by tenKsolar executives Joel Cannon, chief executive officer, and Jim Losleben, business development vice president. The commission Dec.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission today approved the selection of the St. Cloud law firm of Quinlivan and Hughes by the League of Minnesota Cities to investigate Utilities General Manager Bruce Gomm for possible misconduct. Utilities Commission Vice President Dave Baker said the firm was retained to review operations at the utility and will be paid by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust on behalf of the Willmar Utilities.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission today approved the selection of the St. Cloud law firm of Quinlivan and Hughes by the League of Minnesota Cities to investigate Utilities General Manager Bruce Gomm for possible misconduct. Utilities Commission Vice President Dave Baker said the firm was retained to review operations at the utility and will be paid by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust on behalf of the Willmar Utilities.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission is slated to discuss on Tuesday the hiring of a firm to evaluate the current management and organizational structure. A rejected solar project is also on Tuesday's agenda after the City Council urged that the project be discussed again before a Dec. 31 deadline to apply for related grant funding. The commission voted Dec.

WILLMAR -- An attempt is under way to further explain the proposed solar energy project to Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission members after they voted this month to reject the project. Jim Losleben, vice president of business development for tenKsolar of Minneapolis, said he intends to meet individually with the seven commission members in an attempt to clear up what Losleben thinks is some misinformation about the project. The $1.2 million, 600-kilowatt project would produce enough energy to serve about 2,100 homes, according to tenKsolar. The system would provide electricity at a cost

WILLMAR -- Mayor Frank Yanish has delayed acceptance of a letter of resignation from Municipal Utilities Commission member and President Doug Lindblad. Yanish says he wants to discuss with Lindblad the possibility of him continuing to serve on the commission at least while the commission deals with management and personnel issues.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar City Council has tabled proposed City Charter amendments until all eight council members can attend a council meeting. The council meets again on Jan. 3. The charter, which is the city's governing document, was last reviewed in 1993. Changes by council action require affirmative votes of all eight council members.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission this week rejected a proposal to construct a solar energy project at the site of the utility's two wind turbines on the north edge of the city. Commission Vice President Dave Baker said the project looked good from the standpoint of renewable energy, looked like a fair return and thought it was a good investment long term. But Baker cited a number of issues that the commission needs to take care of first. He said the utility is waiting for approval for the proposed $10 million power plant improvement project.

WILLMAR -- The Willmar City Council will take public comments during a hearing at 7:02 p.m. Monday to consider an ordinance amending the City Charter. The hearing will be held during the council's regular meeting in the chambers at the Municipal Utilities Building, 700 Litchfield Ave. S.W. The amendments are being proposed by the Charter Commission, which was appointed by the council in October 2008 and assigned the task of revisiting and proposing amendments to the charter -- the city's governing document.